One of the best pieces of advice a doctor can give his/her patient is to get a good night’s sleep. But for people such as insomniacs, sleeping can be a real challenge. Doctors usually prescribe sleeping medications such as Ambien or Trazadone if the patient is diagnosed with insomnia. There is no doubt that these drugs work; the problem, however, is that people tend to develop a dependency to these drugs which also come with a number negative side-effects. The good news is that all types of insomnia even long-term or chronic insomnia can be effectively resolved with acupuncture. Acupuncture is a natural cure for insomnia that people cannot develop a dependency to and which has virtually zero side effects!
What is Acupuncture?
An integral part of Chinese medicine, acupuncture is a medical procedure that uses needles inserted into energy channels known as meridians in the body. One of the goals of acupuncture treatment is to modulate the flow of vital energy, known as Qi through the meridians that control the facets of our body’s functioning. Acupuncture is incredibly effective in curing acupuncture as it provides a calming effect on our nervous system.
What Causes Insomnia?
Insomnia can develop due to various factors. Based on the theory of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), insomnia’s physiology can be complex, but it can be reduced to a simple explanation that two factors are needed to get good sleep: proper functioning of blood to house Shen or Spirit and the correct transition of Yang to Yin energy with the change from day to night.
It is Yang energy that keeps the mind active. This is because this positive form of energy flows through the Yang areas of your body during the day keeping you alert and awake. When night time comes, this energy normally goes lower and deeper in your body and back to the Yin areas of your body. But if Yang energy remains in the Yang areas of your eyes and brain, these two organs will remain energized which prevents you from getting sleepy and eventually falling asleep. Of course, when this happens, we have a condition known as insomnia.
Based on TCM theory, the residence of the Shen (Spirit) is in your Blood. If Shen cannot find support from Blood, it travels upwards to the mind resulting in insomnia. The Liver is the organ system that stores Blood while the Spleen system produces it. A disharmony in one of both of these systems results in a weak Blood quality which makes it difficult to provide residency to the Spirit.
How Does Acupuncture Cure Insomnia in Overland Park?
Before we explain how acupuncture can effectively treat insomnia, we must first know what different types of insomnia are there and how they develop. Knowing the will aid the acupuncturist in formulating a plan of treatment specifically designed to address a patient’s sleeping problem.
Having a hard time falling asleep – This type of insomnia occurs because Yang Qi is unable to come in the Yin areas of the body.
Cannot sleep at all – This type of insomnia is due to Blood inadequacy caused by either Liver or Spleen deficiency.
Too much dreaming during sleep – This occurs because the brain cannot calm down due to excessive Heart or Heat Fire or Liver deficiency which results in insomnia.
Waking up early and unable to return to sleep – Kidney Yin energy is damaged due to an unhealthy lifestyle. The Kidney Deficiency causes Heat to rise up causing insomnia.
Frequent waking up during the night – This type of insomnia comes from internal heat stuck in the body.
Your nervous system calms down when you undergo an acupuncture treatment. The needles deeply affect your mind and body through its ability to balance of your Qi, and unravel your subconscious stresses clearing out the causes of your insomnia. Acupuncture is so potent that even during the treatment procedure you are likely to fell asleep.
The first night after you have been treated with acupuncture, you can already get a good night’s sleep. But after several days if you start to again find going to sleep and staying asleep difficult, this may indicate that more acupuncture treatments are required. You many need to receive several weeks of treatments several days a week to be completely cured of your insomnia, and if you have been suffering from this condition for several years or even decades, then even longer treatments may be required.
Tips for Getting A Good Sleep
The approach of evening should also mean that your body transitions from Yang to Yin. You may also need to adjust your behavior in order to get a good night’s sleep. These tips may be helpful in augmenting your insomnia acupuncture therapy.
Warm foot bath – To lower your Yang Qi down to the Yin regions of your body and get adequate and pleasant sleep, soak your feet in warm water at night
Work – Excessive thinking at night is not advisable if you want to get a good night’s sleep as it can over-stimulate your brain resulting in a sleepless night. Do all your mental activities and work during the day
Exercise – Do not engage in vigorous exercises during the night. These types of exercises should be done in the morning. If you want to exercise during the night, then stick to relaxing stretches in the evening to clear out stress in your mind and body.
Diet – Stay away from caffeine, alcohol, large meals, meats, and spicy foods near bedtime. They all can generate heat in the body. To calm yourself and prevent insomnia try eating wolf berries and/or drinking herbal teas.
Quiet the Mind – Perform meditation or deep breathing exercises in the evening to relax your body and calm your mind at night and get a good night’s sleep.
Cure Your Insomnia
Acupuncture is now widely known to be a really good cure for insomnia. Patients who come in for insomnia treatment tell the practitioner that most of the time they are disconnected from other emotional issues they are facing. These bottled up emotions often manifest in the form of mild depression, anxiety, or insomnia. Modern life surely can wreak havoc to our mind as the stress it generates makes it very difficult for us to relax and get adequate sleep.
For people suffering from insomnia, you don’t need to keep on suffering from sleepless nights. Talk to an acupuncturist today and help cure your insomnia.
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